All this have I proved by wisdom
Referring either to all that he had been discoursing of hitherto
in this book, concerning the vanity of natural wisdom and
knowledge, of pleasure, power, and riches; or to the several
useful instructions given in this chapter, particularly
concerning patiently bearing everything from the hands of God or
men, ( Ecclesiastes
7:8-22 ) . This, by the help and use of that wisdom which God
had given him, he had made trial of, and found it to be right,
and therefore recommended it to others; though he acknowledges
that, with all his wisdom, he was from perfection; I said,
I will be wise; but it [was] far from me;
he determined, if possible, to attain to the perfection of
wisdom, and made use of all means to come at it; that he might
know all the works of God in creation, the nature, use, and
excellency of them; in providence, his different dispensations
towards the sons of men, and the causes of them; and in grace,
the redemption and salvation of men, and the mysteries thereof;
but the more he knew, the more he was convinced of his own
ignorance, and seemed further off from the summit of knowledge
than he was before; and plainly saw, that perfection in wisdom is
not attainable in this life. The Targum restrains this to the
wisdom of the law; but it is better to understand it in a more
general sense.